Johann Johannsson - IBM 1401, a User's Manual

It is actually the interpretation of the electromagnetic waves emitted by this archaic IBM when placed beside a radio transmitter...

Album Review by Neil Ferguson | 12 Nov 2006
Album title: IBM 1401, a User's Manual
Artist: Johann Johannsson
Label: 4AD
IBM 1401, a User's Manual' is the literal interpretation, in classical style, of the melodies of a redundant 1970s IBM computer. Okay, so that's a slight misrepresentation; it is actually the interpretation of the electromagnetic waves emitted by this archaic IBM when placed beside a radio transmitter. All played by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the idea is patently bizarre, and yet, somehow hauntingly beautiful, if slightly monotonous in its execution. Recalling all the antiquated mainframe/instruction manual ethics of Man or Astroman? without the mad space-surf to keep it interesting, sadly, the idea itself becomes much more intriguing than the conclusion. [Neil Ferguson]
IBM 1401, a User's Manual' is out on October 16. http://www.johannjohannsson.com/